- Entrepreneurial career and personal loss: Howard Lutnick is CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, a major financial services firm that he rebuilt after the September 11, 2001, attacks that killed 658 employees.
- Political role: Lutnick is a supporter of Donald Trump and, as Secretary of Commerce, is expected to implement a protectionist economic policy with a focus on tariffs and trade relations.
- Bitcoin advocates: Lutnick is planning a Bitcoin financing business and sees potential in cryptocurrencies for banks once regulatory adjustments are made.
Howard Lutnick: CEO and survivor
Howard Lutnick is an American entrepreneur and CEO of the financial services company Cantor Fitzgerald. Born on July 14, 1961 in Jericho, New York, he grew up in a Jewish family. After losing both parents during his high school years, he received a scholarship to Haverford College, where he graduated with a degree in economics in 1983.
After graduating, Lutnick began his career at Cantor Fitzgerald and rose to president and CEO in 1991. Under his leadership, the company developed into a major player in the financial sector. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 hit Cantor Fitzgerald particularly hard: 658 employees, including Lutnick’s brother, were killed. Lutnick survived because he took his son to school that morning. In the period that followed, he was intensively committed to supporting the bereaved and rebuilding the company.
Trump’s Commerce Secretary and advocate of protectionist economic policies
Politically, Lutnick is a supporter of Donald Trump. He served as co-chair of Trump’s transition team and was instrumental in preparing the new administration. In November 2024, President-elect Trump announced that he would nominate Lutnick as Secretary of Commerce. In this position, he is expected to implement Trump’s plans to introduce new import tariffs and shape US trade relations.
Lutnick is known for his critical stance toward China and advocates a hard line on trade issues. He sees tariffs as an effective way to protect American jobs and strengthen the domestic economy. His appointment as Secretary of Commerce is therefore seen as a signal for a more protectionist trade policy in the USA.
In addition to his professional activities, Lutnick is involved in various charitable projects and supports numerous non-profit organizations. His life is marked by personal losses and reconstruction, both in the private and professional spheres.
Howard Lutnick and Bitcoin
Howard Lutnick is also a well-known proponent of Bitcoin. He views Bitcoin as a commodity, similar to gold or oil, and advocates regulating it accordingly. Lutnick has announced that Cantor Fitzgerald will build a Bitcoin financing business with $2 billion in seed capital to provide investors with leverage.
He predicts that U.S. banks will hold Bitcoin within the next five years as regulatory adjustments allow. His positive attitude towards Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies is also reflected in his support for them Crypto regulations reflected.